Main for conveying fluids



(No Model.)

, J BRADY. MAIN FOR CONVEYING FLUIDS.

Patented Feb. 21, 1882.

FIG--l.

FIG-r4- INVENTU (aw-m SUM-O NrrEo STATES PATENT Orrrce.

JAMES BRADY, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MAIN FOR CONVEYING FLUIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent iNo. 253,908, dated February 21, 1882.

Application filed January 4, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JAMES BRADY, of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mains for Conveying Fluids, of which the following is a specification. V i

My invention aims to so construct mains for conveying fluids, more especially water-mains, or to so connect the branch pipes therewith, as to insure greater pressure and volume of water in the branches than have been heretofore provided. It is well known that as branch pipes are now connected with the main opening laterally into the side thereof, at or about a right angle to the current in the main, it is frequently difficult to obtain any considerable volume or pressure in the branches on account of the current in the main flowing directly over the orifice of the branch pipe, which difficulty is often experienced to great disadvantage at fires.

Now my improvement consists in constructing the main with abranch pipe or nipple opening into the main across the bore of,,the same, at or about the center thereof, and in a direction opposite the flow through the same, as hereinafter fully set forth, whereby a full pressure and volume of fluid in the branch are insured; and the figures in the annexed drawings represent longitudinal sections of mains embodying this principle in various forms.

In" the several figures, a indicates the main, which is presumed to be made in sections, and to be jointed and laid in the usual manner.

In Figure 1, 1) indicates a nipple for the branch pipe, which nipple opens from the side of the main; but its orifice, instead of opening directly or laterally in the side of the bore of the main, is prolonged within and across the bore to or about the center thereof, and the orifice is then turned longitudinally or parallel with the main, so that when the main is properly laid the orifice will open opposite to the direction of the current flowing through the main, as indicated by the arrows. Hence by this construction the orifice of the branch pipe opens directly against the main current at or about the center thereof, and consequently intercepts a volume of water equaling its area, and deflects it laterally into the branch pipe,

thus insuringafull pressure in the branch pipe,

and a steady flow of a volume therethrough,

proportionate to its area and to the current in the main pipe. At the same time, as the orifice of the branch pipe is of much less area than the main, and as it opens midway, or nearly so, in the large bore of the main, it does not obstruct the chief flow, which thus finds free passage onward around the branch pipe.

have shown the inwardly-turned branch nipple b as cast solid with the main pipe, which is of course preferable, but not essential, and I also prefer to enlarge or swell the main around 'the location of the nipple, so as to leave free passage for the water of the main around the branch nipple.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I show modifications of the principle of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2 the main is formed with a bend, and from the bent portion the branch nipple b extends laterally, but opens in the side of the bend opposite the direction of the flow, with the same effect as in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3 the branch pipe opensinto what may be termed a pocket or short elbow cast'in the side of the main, and opening in the same manner within the main opposite the direction of the flow. The side of the main opposite the branch nipple is swelled for the same purpose as the swell in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4. the branch nipple is formed separate from the main and inserted through an opening in the side thereof. The inner edge of the branch nipple is curved or bent in the form of an elbow, and the nipple is turnable in the lateral opening of the main, and fixable therein by suitable means, so that the inner orifice of the nipple'may always be turned to face the current with the same result'as' in the other forms.

Other slight modifications may be adopted 5 but the constructions shown are believed to be the best, and serve to show the principle of my invention, and how the same may be practicall y carried out in several forms.

My improvement will, it is believed, prove of especial advantage in case of fires, as it will insure a rapid and powerful flow of water to the fire-hydrants, and obviate the lagging in the flow which has heretofore frequently occurred, causing the streams of the engines to lose their force and volume, though the engine may be worked at a high rate, and thus often embarrassing the efiortsof firemen in the extinguishment of fires. My improvement will also prove specially adapted to those systems of water-works-such as the Holly-4n which the pressure in the mains is solely relied on to eject the streams from the fire-hydrants, as it will insure a more powerful and voluminous stream than could otherwise be obtained.

My invention may also be applied to the trunk or main pipe from large blowers, from which branches are taken to supply furnaces, orforother similar purposes, which will readily suggest themselves.

I am aware that the supply-pipes of buildings have in one instance been fitted with fancet-branches, the inward openings of which have been turned to face the current through the supply-pipe. In this case, however, the branches have not extended from or opened into the supply-pipe itself, but into a special chamber or swell, into which the supply-pipe opens. Furthermore, the branch has been of the same area as the supply-pipe, and its inward opening, which has been of equal size with the bore of the supply-pipe, has been so positioned within theswell as to cover, or nearly cover, the mouth of the supply-pipe, so as to obstruct the greater portion thereof and intercept the main flow through the same. It will thus be seen that my invention is readily distinguished, in that it applies specially to streetmains, and not to house branches or supplypipes, and that in my case the branch pipe opens directly from and into the main pipe itself, and not from and into a special chamber introduced along the course of the pipe. Furthermore, in my case the branch is of much smaller size than the main, and its mouth opens midway in the bore of the main, so as not to obstruct the chief area of the main, but leave free passage for the main column around the branch, while the branch simply intercepts a minor column proportioned to its own area, thus forming a good improvement in the connection of branches with mains.

I would also add that I am aware that an ordinary pipe T or coupling has in one instance been formed with a diagonal partition in the angle of the T, so as to divide the main bore of the T in half and deflect half of its current into the lateral passage or branch of the T. 'In this case both members of the T- the main and the branch-have been made of the same area, and half of the area of the main is thus obstructed by the diagonal partition, and no swell, bend, or enlargement has been formed in the main around the orifice of the veying a current of steam where it is desired to send half the current to the branch, which is left constantly open-yet for the special purpose of a water-main, where the branches to hydrants are normally closed and opened only on occasions, such a construction would be quite unfit, forif a numberof such Ts were introduced in the line of the main each would obstruct half its area and prevent the free flow of the current past an idle branch to those which happened to be in action or open, as will be readily understood. By my invention, therefore, by means of the branch opening centrally in the main, or nearly so, leaving afree passage all aroundit, or by means of the lateralswell, bend, or enlargement, in the main around the inwardly-turned orifice of the branch,the constautand full area of the main is maintained throughout and free passage allowed the main current all along its course, whether the branches are closed at any point or not, while when any of these branches are openeda directand full flow into the same proportionate to their area is insured, thus establishing a clear improvement in my case.

What I claim is 1. A water or fluid main constructed or provided with a branch pipe or nipple opening from the side of the main and extending into the bore thereof, with an orifice of less area than the main, and opening therein opposite the direction of the flow through the main, and in the center thereof, or thereabout, whereby the main current is at all times free to flow around the branch, while the orifice of the branch, when opened, intercepts acolumn equal to its area, substantially as herein set forth.

2. A fluid-main constructed with a branch pipe opening from the side of the main and extending into the bore thereof, and opening therein in a direction to face the current, with alateralswell, bend, orenlargement in the main at or around the location of the inwardly-turned orifice ot the branch, whereby the full area of the main is maintained constant along its length, or nearly so, while the orifice of the branch always opens in the middle of the current, or nearly so, and facing the same, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

JAMES BRADY. Witnesses:

EDWARD H. WALns, GHAs. M. HIGGINS. 

